The Effigy of Walter
Stewart,
Earl of Menteith,
at Inchmaholme Priory, Scotland

The monument of Walter Stewart, Earl of
Menteith and his wife Mary, sculptured from the same
block of stone, are unique representations of a man and
wife in the United Kingdom. Although very damaged both
effigies lie on their sides facing each other, each with
an arm extended, embracing each other around the
shoulders. They are both portrayed together as an image
of true love and devotion, an amazing illustration when
we are so used to looking at the standard knightly and
female posture, with the hands held in prayer and the
knight handling his sword. In England the closest we
get to this type of loving devotional image between
couples is on a small number of effigies, where a hand
holding pose is represented; for instance King Richard
II and Ann of Bohemia in Westminster Abbey also Ralph
and Katharine Green at Lowick, Northamptonshire.

Walter is represented cross-legged, with the
head resting on a single rectangular cushion, wearing a
coif, long surcoat and with a large shield on his left
arm with his coat-of-arms in relief: a fess chequeé with
a label of five points. Walter was the third son of
Walter, third High Steward of Scotland. He was invested
in the lands and title of the Earl of Menteith in right
of his wife Mary, daughter and heir of the Earl of
Menteith. He appears to have died about 1296 and his
wife 1286 with the monument probably dating between
c.1280-1300. The reason for the damaged condition is
that the monument was exposed to the elements but now it
is preserved in the remains of the chapter house
together with other monuments

Inchmaholme Priory is in the custodianship of
Historic Scotland and lies on a small island on the Lake
of Menteith and is only accessed by a small motor boat
ferry from a nearby jetty. The island and the
surrounding area is one of the most picturesque places
one can ever visit. After visiting the priory the
afternoon or evening can be take up by sitting outside
the hotel, watching fly-fisherman, and the amazing sight
of Ospreys’ from the Menteith Hills gliding over the
lake.